ESPN media whore Doug Gottlieb (Twat!) attempts to rob BYU basketball of their rightful seeding in the NCAA Tournament

The college basketball rankings came out today. Predictably, the 'experts' did not give BYU the number one ranking that they deserve. But it's like Clint Eastwood told Gene Hackman in 'Unforgiven,' deserves gots nothing to do with it (as noted in a recent Shots Heard rant).

We already told you that it's about the media whores serving their bigger markets. So of course it came as no surprise that BYU came in at number 3 in the recent rankings behind Ohio State and Kansas even though they have a better RPI and strength of schedule than both of those teams.

Granted, polling is subjective in nature and designed to allow for some additional reasoned analysis. And on that basis we would not condemn any individual fan or pollster that believes that a Kansas or Ohio State should get the nod over BYU. Our problem is that collectively the media whores clearly have their vested interests and that they routinely and systematically discriminate against non 'major' teams.

Want proof? BYU, Kansas and Ohio State are all in the top 3 in RPI in that order. They are also all 27-2. They are all clearly comparable teams although if you look at the data, BYU does hold an edge over those teams.

BYU 27-2, Strength of Schedule - 12, , Record versus Top 50 RPI: 9-1

Kansas 27-2, Strength Of Schedule - 13, Record versus Top 50 RPI: 6-2

Ohio State 27-2, Strength Of Schedule - 27, Record versus Top 50 RPI: 6-2

Now if the pundits/'experts' were giving proper credence to the numbers, the voting would almost certainly be close. But let's look at the reality:

AP Voting Totals

Ohio State - 45 First Place Votes

Kansas - 14 First Place Votes

BYU - 5 First Place Votes

So BYU is numerically the best team in the country and yet they get less than eight percent of the vote? The media whores are busy at work.

Speaking of media whores, it gets worse when you look at the USA/ESPN Poll. There are seventeen first place votes for Ohio State, fourteen first place votes for Kansas and ZERO first place votes for BYU.

San Diego State (RPI 4, Strength Of Schedule 26) would be 29-0 and they would be the undisputed number one team in the nation had BYU not handed them their asses by thirteen points not once but twice. Yet, BYU is somehow unworthy of recognition from any of the ESPN media whores?

Speaking of media whores, let's have a laugh as we watch media whore, Doug Gottlieb pretend that not only is BYU unworthy of the number one spot in the rankings, but also a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament (a tournament that is also ran by money whores,  the 'major' conference heads).

Analyzing the 'better conference myth'

You will notice that when the pundits speak of The Big East, Big Ten, or even the especially weak ACC that we are supposed to hold those conferences in some sort of reverence compared to the The Mountain West. (And by the way, what happened to the SEC this year? - Guess they aren't too 'major' this year).

Mathematicians were paid handsome sums of money to develop the strength of schedule formula and RPI formula. Anybody that has taken a college level statistics course will know that every formula has a margin of error. From everything I've read, the RPI and SOS formulas have very minimal margins of error and are quite reliable. And certainly, any margin of error does not justify the votes in the polls.

Let's assume for a moment that the voters were on the level. In such a case, the lack of first place votes for BYU would be quite the statistic anomaly. But we know that it is not truly an anomaly. Rather, the media whores are whoring it up the way they do.

And so knowing that the RPI and SOS formulas are legitimate formulas, then we legitimately surmise that the Mountain West is solid even 'major,' else  BYU would have a much worse SOS (not to mention RPI) than Kansas and Ohio State. And so ti is that the Mountain West is a tough conference as all of the teams in the conference are .500 or better in non-conference play.

The only team not better than .500 in non conference play is Utah. The Utes were 7-7 in conference play. However, Utah is BYU's arch nemesis and teams generally bring their A-Game against rivals. BYU still beat the Utes by an average of 19 points in their two meetings against each other.

The Mountain West, Conference USA, Big Ten and the Big 12 were the only conferences with all of their respective teams perform at .500 or better in non conference play. It's noteworthy that South Florida was the only Big East team (6-7 in non-conference play) with a sub .500 record in non-conference play. (Currently the media whores are slobbering about the idea of eleven Big East teams making the Big Dance). We can see though that the Mountain West is roughly on par with the teams from supposed 'major' conferences.

Relaying Doug Gottlieb's flaming pile of analysis

In the above video ESPN's Joe Lunardi and Doug Gottlieb are asked to give their number one seeds, essentially the top four teams. Shots Heard will analyze their slutty analysis (particularly Doug Gottlieb's Bull Durham).

Joe Lundardi's Top Four

Ohio State - East

Pittsburgh - Southeast

Kansas - Southwest

BYU - West

Doug Gottlieb's Top Four

Ohio State - East

Pittsburgh - Southeast

Kansas - Southwest

Texas - West

In the beginning of the video, Joe Lunardi is fairly reasonable with his logic. He clarifies that the choice for the fourth number one spot was between an over-rated Pitt (an over-rated team that has terrible outside shooting, but great inside presence and a solid closer with Wannamaker) and Duke (a good all around team from the weak ACC). Even Lundardi was wise enough not to totally whore it up and to deny BYU who is clear cut number one seed.

Then Joe Gottlieb gave his load of cow dung analysis:

I'd have Texas over BYU and Joe my logic behind it is the number one seed is a reward. It's a reward not just for stellar play in conference but what do you do on the road and I know that you're going to come back with BYU's road numbers; but also what you do out of conference and how you schedule up. Now BYU plays a decent out of conference schedule; Arizona, UCLA; split those two, essentially home and away, quote unquote neutral sites, Utah State they play every year and St. Mary's. You compare that to Texas and what they challenged themselves with; Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden, a two point loss. They played Carolina in Greensborough a win. They played Michigan State, a preseason top ten and I know numbers wise it does not help them as much. But you consider those wins that they had out of conference and how they challenged themselves. They go to USC and get beat on the road. Probably the same thing would have happened to BYU. And then within conference they don't get the benefit of having Kansas come and play them at their place. And instead they have a monster victory (at Kansas). You got a two point loss and a win on the road at two of your one seeds. I still think Texas is the one seed, especially considering they have a chance to win at Baylor, Kansas State at home tonight. I think Texas has a better resume in terms of pure wins than BYU does.

Joe Lunardi Response:

If it was close, I would absolutely take Texas and their win at Kansas putting them up to the top line but it's really not close. The non-conference schedule strength for BYU is actually 14th (strength of schedule) and they're 14-1 against that schedule. Texas is seventy fourth in non conference (strength of schedule) and they have extra non conference losses. So it's really BYU across the board in terms of number of losses, schedule strength, both overall and non conference, and then of course in the what have you done for me lately category, Texas has lost two of its last three.

Joe Gottlieb Counter:

Texas has also played a far more difficult stretch of road games with Nebraska and Colorado. Look, I'm with you generally. I do fall back on some of the numbers. But I only point this out, of the ten true road victories BYU has, Okay? Eight of them are one hundred (presumably RPI) and below. So they loaded up on road wins against..And then you're counting a Colorado State and a UNLV, two at-best bubble teams. I think UNLV is going to get in (to the NCAA Tournament) largely on the back of win of Wisconsin going back to the first month of the half of the season.

I like BYU, not a shot at BYU. I just think that we're falling a little bit in love with the numbers based on the Arizona win, played essentially on a home court (Utes court) and the latest wins against San Diego State. They've dominated their conference and they got the Arizona win. Outside of that, there's not a lot to fall in love with.

Analyzing the 'Employee Of The Month' level analysis

'Employee Of The Month,' starring Dane Cook is possibly the worst movie in history. It is so bad that you can analyze any segment of it and laugh at how bad it is. Watching Doug Gottlieb's analysis is so bad that if it were a movie it would be on par with 'Employee Of The Month.' It truly deserves a critical dissection. It is just that bad. 

So prepare to laugh as we dissect the idiot's (Doug Gottlieb's) analysis. Gottlieb's words are in italics.

I'd have Texas over BYU and Joe my logic behind it is the number one seed is a reward. 

Oh! Stop the presses! The number one seed is a reward. Shut your hole you condescending twat (ironically I thank Dane Cook for revitalizing that slang word). BYU has earned a number one seed. There has never been a two loss team with an RPI of 1 that did not deserve the reward of a number one seed. Think about that. Never! And yet this guy is trying to state that not only is Texas more deserving, but that BYU does not even merit a number one seed; that they should not get that reward. Twat! It needs to be restated.

It's a reward not just for stellar play in conference but what do you do on the road and I know that you're going to come back with BYU's road numbers; but also what you do out of conference and how you schedule up.

Joe Lunardi basically trumped Joe Gottlieb's BS by stating that BYU has a non conference RPI of 14 to Texas's 71! It is not even close as Lunardi states.

Now BYU plays a decent out of conference schedule; Arizona, UCLA; split those two, essentially home and away, quote unquote neutral sites, Utah State they play every year and St. Mary's.

Let's look at the impressive BYU wins that the a-hole glossed over

(Oh how can you not be civil?) I'm not going to err on the side of civility when I deal with con artists. Just because ESPN is paying this guy handsomely to tickle the ears of the customers in the big markets doesn't mean I'm going to pretend that this guy is worthy of my respect.

BYU beat currently ranked 18th Arizona by 22. Sure it was in Salt Lake City. But it was still a 22 point ass kicking. What were they supposed to win by 35 for it to be worthy of Doug Gottlieb's love?

And let's just look at this straight-up. At one point this season, Texas had a 21 point win at home against currently 21st ranked Texas A And M. Last I checked, 21 is not better than 22. So what's the point of claiming that the Arizona win was in Utah if Texas isn't supplying better fruits in the Top 25 ass whoopin' department on their own home floor? There is no difference.

Con artists like Gottlieb will throw out numbers and not care if they actually make sense. He knows that he just has to fool most of the people (who aren't doing in depth fact checks) for a few minutes on television.

Gottlieb mentioned BYU's loss in Anaheim to UCLA. Okay, but he did not mention that BYU played uncharacteristically bad that game and that UCLA is pretty good. They are currently tied with Arizona for first place in the Pac-10.

Then he tried to gloss over the six point win against the WAC Champion, Utah State and WCC Champion, St. Mary's. And he did not bother to mention that Utah State is 26-3 and has and RPI of 21. Instead,, he wasted time stating that BYU plays Utah State every year as if that is supposed to support his premise that BYU did not challenge themselves.

You compare that (BYU's aforementioned wins) to Texas and what they challenged themselves with; Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden, a two point loss. They played Carolina in Greensborough, a win. They played Michigan State, a preseason top ten and I know numbers wise it does not help them as much.

I love the line, and what they challenged themselves with. Apparently Arizona, UCLA, Utah State, St. Mary's were not a comparable challenge.

Gottlie mentions the Texas's two point loss to Pitt at Madison Square Garden. But Pitt is an over-rated team (they have terrible outside shooting). It's tempting to point out that BYU has beat a comparable opponent, San Diego State by 13 points twice. But perhaps that would not be fair because we are comparing non-conference feats and SDSU is a conference opponent. But fine, don't factor in SDSU and we still come back to the actual non-conference RPIs.

The North Carolina win is impressive, but it is enough to overlook losing to a team like Nebraska and Colorado? Impressive non-conference wins should not cancel out bad performances in conference. Certainly, if BYU accumulated extra losses to Colorado State and Air Force (two comparable teams) then BYU would not even be afforded three seed consideration, despite the fact that those opponents both have similar records and RPIs.

And what is so impressive about Texas anyhow, that Gottlieb can overlook losing a 22 point lead and losing to Colorado? What kind of number one seed cannot hang on to a 22 point lead? If all things were even then okay we could possibly overlook that parameter. But since BYU is 27-2 with a number 1 RPI then should Texas not have such pathetic happenstances on their resume?

They played Michigan State, a preseason top ten and I know numbers wise it does not help them as much.

Let me remind you that Gottlieb is trying to speak about the context of impressive non-conference wins. He is stacking up 16-12 Michigan State against three conference champions and another second place team that will quite possibly finish in the Top 25. Wow! Way to try to sneak that one in under the guise of  preseason top ten. Twat!

But you consider those wins that they had out of conference and how they challenged themselves. They go to USC and get beat on the road. Probably the same thing would have happened to BYU. 

WTF! I would say the real words of that acronym, but decorum prevents it. Is it plausible that BYU could have lost on the road to USC. Well USC is 17-12. So yes they are good enough to beat anybody. But would BYU go to USC and probably lose? No a-hole. BYU would have probably went into the one third filled Galen Center and beat them down by 20 points. That is what they probably would have done. If BYU would have probably lost to USC then why did they not fold in SDSU (a team with a legitimate claim for the number 1 ranking)? Twat!

BYU has a 49 point and 50 point win on their resume and they did not get to 27-2 and a 1 RPI by losing or even barely beating teams like USC. Obviously, I can't repeat 27-2 and 1 RPI enough.

For stating that BYU would have probably lost to lowly USC, Gottlieb ought to be banned from the airwaves for a year. I'm not even saying that for effect either. As a consumer, I don't want watch whores lie to my face.

This is how the double standard is really in effect; Gottlieb would not be claiming that Ohio State or Kansas would likely go to the mediocre USC and lose. Yet, BYU is the same caliber team as those teams. And by the way, going to USC is not exactly a daunting task in the first place.

And then within conference they don't get the benefit of having Kansas come and play them at their place. And instead they have a monster victory (at Kansas). You got a two point loss and a win on the road at two of your one seeds. I still think Texas is the one seed, especially considering they have a chance to win at Baylor, Kansas State at home tonight. I think Texas has a better resume in terms of pure wins than BYU does.

Actually idiot, the RPI significantly weights road wins and conversely punishes losses at home. So playing Kansas on the road was a really good thing; especially since Texas won. And really since, Pittsburgh is an artificial (borderline) number one (they are not BYU, OSU or KSU) then your touting Texas's playing two number ones is fairly disingenuous. And it's worth noting that they went 1-1 in those games! Fifty percent win percentages is hardly a trump card. BYU could have just as easily went fifty percent (or better) against those teams.

SDSU, 27-2 has a 4 RPI  and they are a legitimate number one seed caliber team. And BYU DID beat a legitimate number one seed twice and by 13 points (None of this only losing by two points BS).

By the way, what is that BS about pure wins? Gottlieb is just making up terms! There's no definition or measure for pure wins! Gottlieb only compounded his stupidity by trying to sound especially smart. The only thing more annoying than having a smart person trying to con you is having a dumb person trying to con you! It's like dude, just shut the f up. You sound like such an idiot and we don't want your snake oil.

(Further analyzing) I still think Texas is the one seed, especially considering they have a chance to win at Baylor, Kansas State at home tonight. I think Texas has a better resume in terms of pure wins than BYU does.

Hmm. Texas will play Kansas State at home and Baylor on the road. KSU has a 25 RPI and Baylor has an RPI of 72. Yes that is more impressive than the RPI of BYU's last two opponents who are New Mexico, RPI 91 and Wyoming RPI 258. But will that somehow be enough to move Texas's RPI from 9 into the top 4 and BYU from 1 into 5? No. Even if so, it is pure speculation at best. It does not justify this a-hole's going on television and claiming that five loss, nine RPI Texas is more worthy of the one seed than two loss and top RPI team, BYU.

I know that we are making fun Doug Gottlieb's BS, but let us not forget that Joe Lundardi is basically a wolf in sheep's clothing either, when he conceeds, If it was close, I would absolutely take Texas and their win at Kansas putting them up to the top line but it's really not close.

That's the big preliminary load of BS that we are dealing with from the outset. Why is it preset that if it is close that Texas gets the nod over BYU? This a-hole undoubtedly put his preset bias right on the table for you. He made a Freudian slip and showed you exactly how the ESPN whores divvy out rankings. Lundardi is basically the equivalent of a sports bigot. The fact that he is not trying to pile on like Gottlieb only speaks to his pragmatism and not a sense of real fairness.

Texas has also played a far more difficult stretch of road games with Nebraska and Colorado.

Yea and they lost those road games to bubble teams (at-best bubble teams if they were in the MWC). BYU has won their road games against bubble teams. BYU went to the gyms of similar teams like Utah, Colorado State and Air Force and handled their business. And they won their road games against tougher teams like UNLV and SDSU.

Look, I'm with you generally. I do fall back on some of the numbers. But I only point this out, of the ten true road victories BYU has, Okay? Eight of them are one hundred (presumably RPI) and below. So they loaded up on road wins against..

You ever have someone look you in the eye and pretend like they are adhering to reason when you know they are just trying to get away with a huge con? This guy is not falling back on the numbers is the big problem. He has completely thrown the numbers out the door. 

But Gottlieb pretends that he is adhering to numbers when he mentions that BYU has eight victories against opponents with an RPI of one hundred or higher. Okay? (I'm going to do the Gotliebb Okay? technique -- Like listen to me I know what I'm talking about okay?). 

Texas performed better in their non-conference road schedule? They only had four road games and they went 2-2 in those games! Fifty percent again! The rest of the time Texas loaded up with all really weak opponents at home (not challenging themselves).

And in Texas's two challenging non-conference games against UCONN and Illinois, they went 1-1. Fiftye percent again!

Let's remember the crux of Gottlieb's argument. He wanted to value the non-conference performance. Hmm. Texas went 3-3 against Top 100 RPI teams in non-conference play (that's how they got that justified 71 non conference RPI by the way).

And I like how he tried to pretend that it was about Texas finishing strong against KSU and Baylor. That would just magically disregard BYU's accomplishments.

Do you ever wonder why a media whore will tout how a team finishes? It's because in the olden days, before RPI and quick data, it was easier for the pundits to snow people into thinking somebody finishing on a good note was more worthy of a seeding. It somehow did not matter the team sucked earlier in the year.

But does that really make sense?

If a Guy A finishes a marathon with a better time than Guy B do we say that Guy B deserves the win because he was ran the last two or three miles faster? No. That would be preposterous. The same principle should apply in college basketball.

Nonetheless, 'experts' will often use the 'who's hot' trick to whore it up for their bigger markets. But even Gottlieb is using that tool to take an unprecedented leap. Gottlieb is taking so much undue liberty with that Joe Lunardi has to pragmatically remind his fellow media whore: So it's really BYU across the board in terms of number of losses, schedule strength, both overall and non conference, and then of course in the what have you done for me lately category, Texas has lost two of its last three.

So they (BYU) loaded up on road wins against..And then you're counting a Colorado State and a UNLV, two at-best bubble teams. I think UNLV is going to get in (to the NCAA Tournament) largely on the back of win of Wisconsin going back to the first month of the half of the season.

Okay, I cannot say this enough mister a-hole (Gottlieb). The RPI is a measure of strength of schedule and performance. So stop trying to pretend that the Mountain West is weak when they are one of only four conferences in which all of the teams have winning non conference records.

Also characterizing CSU and UNLV as two at-best bubble teams is so contemptuously pathetic that someone ought to just slap you in your snide face.

UNLV has a 26 RPI and 33 SOS and they are 22-7. Granted a pinhead like yourself will come back and say cough, cough well look at their 3-6 record versus Top 50 RPI teams. Of course idiots like yourself would ignore the fact that they were all hard fought games. If it were Kentucky or UCONN and they had the exact same numbers, Gottlieb would not be pretending that they were bubble teams. So knock the double standard off already media whores. We know you're game. It's old.

Idiots like Gottlieb are not going around calling UCLA a bubble team or at-best bubble team.  UCLA is only 3-4 against the Top 50 RPI teams with a 46 SOS and a 21-8 record that is worse than UNLV's 22-7 record. Could it be because calling a likely first or second place team of a 'major' conference is sacrilege but calling a third place team in a 'non major' conference is standard procedure?

Quite frankly if UNLV was in the ACC or Pac-10 they would have been competing for a conference title and then it would be unthinkable to call them an at-best bubble team.

Colorado State has an RPI of 47 and an SOS of 38 to go with an 18-10 record. Admittedly, with two games left they are a bubble team in that if they finish the season with losses, they would jeopardize their tournament selection. However, CBS Bracketology 'experts' have CSU in the tournament as it stands right now and they certainly are not an at-best, a bubble team. So again, the a-hole lied to the viewers.


Getting back to UNLV; they went to Virginia Tech and beat the Hogies by 12 points. Duke went to Blackburg and lost by 4. A couple days ago, Gottlieb would have been willing to give Duke a number one seed. This guy knows that UNLV is not a legit contender, not a bubble team.

And what's more, Gottlieb's going discredit UNLV while worshiping University of Wisconsin basketball?

I like BYU, not a shot at BYU. I just think that we're falling a little bit in love with the numbers based on the Arizona win, played essentially on a home court (Utes court) and the latest wins against San Diego State. They've dominated their conference and they got the Arizona win. Outside of that, there's not a lot to fall in love with.

Gottlieb tries to to make BYU sound like a fluke. He paints a picture that BYU only got a few lucky wins. This is a patented media whore maneuver. BYU is 9-1 vs. the RPI Top 50 whereas Texas is 7-2 vs. the RPI Top 50. 

Here is the real tragedy. Anybody that has watched BYU play, knows that they are for real. They can and will beat anybody anywhere.

BYU has played as well as any team in the country and they have performed great on both ends of the court. They also have an offense that has outperformed everybody. Jimmer Fredette has routinely bombed forty foot threes. Despite that reality, the ESPN whores seek to discredit them. 

And let's not just pretend that this is on Gottlieb. The show's producers and the Disney executives knowingly allow for this system of deceit to continue.

Picture: ESPN whore, Doug Gottlieb 

Noteworthy: Soon after the publishing of this article, Texas lost at home to KSU.

Going Away Guilt

Planning a trip is the easy part. Planning a trip and leaving the kids at home now that takes planning. Grandma, and Grandpa are coming to stay with the kids, so that's good. Now I have started making a calender of the week we will be gone. Curling games for the kids, guitar lessens, dance lessens, etc. so gran, & granp's will know were the kids need to go. We have not gone of a week alone in 8year, and we have been married of 15years. The kids are older 9, 11,13 so we thought lets go for it. Gran, & Gramp's are making me feel like we are burden them with our kids. I have always made sure don't make my parent watch my kids, and have really never made them have them for night. (Only ever have had my parents have them for night 2 times a year because we were running a marathon in the morning.) Now we are leaving them with the kids for the week.

What is the problem here you may be asking? Is it me who thinks they don't want to watch my kids? They have watched my three sister kids lots. As the time to go on our trips get closer, I feel like I'm burden my parents with my kids.

Well I am going to stay positive about everything. My kids are great and really never fight with each other, and help around the house lots. They are not high maintenance. You tell them to make there lunch, they do it. Tell them take a shower they do it. Tell them to clean up, they do it.

Here is my wish. That all runs smooth, and they enjoy there time together!
Oh ya, and that we could bring our unicycles with us, they would be so fun to drive around the resort.

The Association: 2010-2011 Boston Celtics - First Two Episodes

Episode 1

Episode 2

Trying to run no matter the weather.

Well I set a goal to run 10 miles each week starting this January. Living in Manitoba, Canada in January running outside can be a bit "cool" jog. Week one went for two runs total 12miles, -30c with the windchill. Next week two runs, total 10miles, -25c with windchill. Then some thing happened with the weather, was -5c to +4c the next two weeks. It was icy but with some spikes on my runner I had fast fun runs. 5 weeks in and it's going, maybe all bump up the miles for march.

That brings me today with windchill feels like -25c. I have my MP3 charging, I don't want to go out side. Anyone that likes to jog has been there, good weather or bad. The times you have to make yourself go for a run. You know you will feel better after a good jog, but you have to make yourself do it. The weather was better last week. It's to cold. (Three weeks ago I was running in colder weather) I have been jogging for 9 years is this ever going to get easier. I like jogging but why is there have to be this fight with my "will" now and then.

Right now it's 3pm the sun is out, at -25 with windchill, it's as nice out as it's going to get. So with that, I'm going to put on long jonh's and two more layers, gloves, with only my eyes that are not cover up and head out. My "Will" do stay in will not win. Weather it nice out or not, here we go, I'm a jogger and I will make myself love it.

College Basketball - The media whores: Handling their business in 2011

The Blake Griffin Analogy

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest that Blake Griffin won tonight is a microcosm of how the system works in college football and basketball. Griffin was the favorite. Griffin was even the best and most exciting dunker. But Blake Griffin did not earn his victory on an even playing field. And in the case of tonight, he would not have won the contest on an even playing field.

The same concept holds true. The 'major' teams are often the favorites and even the best. But the playing field is not even and it often leads to unfair results.

And who or what enables this unfair playing field: the media or as they will otherwise be called in this article, the media whores.

Tonight, in the first round of the NBA of the NBA Dunk Contest, Blake Griffin needed a  good score on his second dunk to advance to the final. He had two minutes to complete the dunk and he was going to use about all of it if needs be to complete what may have been the greatest dunk in the history of the event. He was going to have Baron Davis throw it off of the back side of the backboard while he came flying from the side of the court and he would then complete a reverse back hand 360 dunk. He tried about six times and only came relatively close one time.

Hey. We don't fault Blake for trying though. We only wish that he completed the amazing dunk!

Finally on the seventh try, he settled for a ho hum tomahawk dunk. Now I've watched enough NBA Slam Dunk Contests to know that had that been anybody random ass clown throwing down a generic dunk on the seventh try that we would have saw sixes and sevens from the judges. Blake did throw down the dunk with decent power and that might have been enough to boost him into the eight and nine category had he just been a random ass clown.

But Blake Griffin is not a random ass clown. He's Blake Griffin and his average score was consequently a 9.2. His total score of 46 for the dunk gave him a two round total of 95. It was enough to beat the random ass clown, Demar Derozan (94 points) by a point. Even though Derozan threw down one of the best dunks I've seen in years for his second dunk (I did not see his first dunk); short of dunking from the three point line, he was not going to surpass Blake Griffin on this night.

Was Griffin the highest flying, most powerful, most exciting dunker in the field? Yes, yes, yes. But did he truly earn it on a level playing field? Absolutely not. But hey, the NBA and the sports media is swimming in more gravy with Blake Griffin winning the dunk competition.

How's that, you ask?

They cash in as soon as this weekend. More internet hits for articles and highlights. More people will actually tune in for tomorrow's All Star Game to see Blake Griffin's star. And long term. Well long term, let's just say that a bigger money path has now been blazed. Andre Agassi said it best when he said, "Image is everything."

Remembering Boise State Football 2010

Last season, the Boise State Broncos had one of the best football teams ever assembled (Just watch and see how many skilled players, let alone linemen they had that will go pro - It'll be sick!) But it did not matter. It flat out just did not matter. Had BSU beat a Nevada team that was essentially as strong of caliber as anybody else in the top ten then it would still not matter.

And I know what some of you lemmings and otherwise intelligent people are thinking. The Nevada Wolfpack were a top ten caliber team? Yes! They were 13-1 and their only loss was a close loss at Hawaii. Everyone out west, knows Hawaii is a notoriously tough venue (The Rainbows are always good at home even when their team sucks). But Hawaii did not suck. They were 10-4.

The Wolfpack also, had a running back duo that broke the career record for rushing yards. They were a team capable of pounding any team into submission on any given night. And quite frankly there is a reason that they were not on Oregon or Auburn's schedule. These teams from 'major' conference routinely stay away from their equals so that they can most effectively play the system. The University of Florida has not played a non conference game outside of the state of Florida since 1992! Shameless!

The general system

These team  from 'major' conferences are essentially no better than many of the teams from non 'major' conferences. But they have made a system that allows them to be recognized as superiors while the media whores who have vested interests in the facade prop them up. And yes, there is no bigger media whore than good ole 'wholesome' ESPN.

The RPI (College Basketball) Formula - A shameless double standard 'supplemental tool'

The RPI is predominately a measure of strength of schedule and quality of wins. When a team from a 'major' conference has a good RPI, it is used to justify anything and everything regarding their seeding in the NCAA tournament. When a non 'major' school has a good RPI, it suddenly becomes only a 'supplemental tool.' That is why despite being one or two in RPI for approximately the last month and a half (off the top of my head), BYU has not cracked the Top Five in the polls.

Look at an excerpt from bleacher report (not exactly a power house media outlet, but known). Look at how they shamelessly consider BYU to be some second class program from somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

BYU (23-2) is having an outstanding season, but one has to wonder how reliable the RPI is with the Provo, Utah school as its No. 1 team:

It's questionable at the least to understand how they rank higher in the RPI than Kansas RPI (No. 2), Texas RPI (No. 8), Ohio St. RPI (No. 3), Pitt RPI (No. 6) and Duke RPI (No. 7).

Just for clarity, Provo/Orem has the same population as Durham, North Carolina, where Duke is located.

One might miss that subtle shot if they are not used to recognizing the media whore's tactics. Yes even outlets like the Bleacher Report who were likely created to counter media whoredom, eventually realize there's more money in pedaling  to the bigger supply of johns (telling their primary markets what they want to hear).

How can a team from Provo have the best RPI? Oh clearly the RPI measure cannot be taken seriously?

Oh really?

The whores at ESPN will be rattling off Duke's RPI, UCLA's RPI, or whoever's RPI to justify their seedings or whatever else come tournament time. However, when a team like BYU cracks the top spot in the RPI, it's more like, what the _______ is wrong with that formula? They know that little if anything is wrong with the damn formula. But anytime a non 'major' school gets up there, they will have no problem pretending that the formula is broken.

I guess a little thing like having the best f-ing player in the country (Jimmer Fredette) and routinely kicking ass did not help them get to where they are? C'MON!

Even today, despite a poor shooting performance from that best player (who is always getting double and triple teamed and still routinely dropping 40's on teams), BYU went to Fort Worth and beat TCU by 23.

Tweny freaking three points!

Great teams make good teams look bad. That is what BYU did to TCU and that is what they did to San Diego State (a top ten team) when they beat them by 13, handing the Aztecs their only loss of the season.

Media Whore: Oh that doesn't matter though. San Diego State plays so many non 'major' teams. It doesn't matter that they have twenty seven wins to one loss! Clearly a Pittsburgh or whoever would too if they played out west.

I doubt it! The truth is that if the 'major' conference teams are better than it is a marginal difference at most. But the media whores would have you think it's a head and shoulders difference the way they routinely vote and the way the continually disregard the BYUs and San Diego States of the world.

Furthermore

Were it not for that one loss,San Diego State would likely be ranked one in the nation right now! Even the media whores would have a hard time denying the Aztecs that top spot. So BYU beat an elite team and has routinely spanked more teams than anybody, but it's not good enough to get them top five status?

No. BYU will take their token top ten spot and like it. Of course the voters won't like it. As long as BYU is there, they are taking up valuable real estate and robbing them of potential revenue.

Yes that is the reality. 'Overachievers' or rather teams from non 'major' conferences cut into the revenue stream.

Corrupt Math

ONE LOSS San Diego State is behind a THREE LOSS Texas team (four after their loss today).

One of the Longhorns losses came by seven points to USC! Yes USC! Are they not on probation? Did they not have scholarships cut. As a Southern Cali resident, I have not even bothered to watch them on television this year, if they are even allowed to be on television.

But they still have to pretend that USC is relevant. After all, they are from the 'major' magical Pac 10.

One can legitimately believe that Texas is better than San Diego State. That is not the issue. The issue is not that it is a legitimate belief but rather that the voters play this shell game every f'ing year. We always see the 'major' teams getting the benefit of the doubt. You can set your watch by it.

When the media whores give you these supposedly well thought out reasons for it, it is window dressing. They are just covering up the fact that as media whores, they get more money if Ohio State is ranked number one and not San Diego State.

Without knowing anything about schedules or the teams or anything, we already know that by the media whore system, Texas should be ranked higher than San Diego State.23-4 for Texas will almost always beat 27-1 for San Diego State. It's a gray area and that's all the room that they need to sell you that Texas deserves it more. They will only vote for San Diego State if there's a possibility that they would lose their pretend credibility. And since San Diego State does not have an average point differential of 35 and wins against six top ten schools then that is not an issue.

The Excusemobile: Emotional Effects!

We know how it goes too. San Diego State is a good team, but they just do not have enough quality wins yadda yadda yadda.

Quality? The RPI is a freaking measure of quality. But when BYU has a solid RPI, it's, 'oh well it's a just a supplemental tool. Yea that's it.' -

Consider this RPI analysis for ESPN whore, Eamonn Brennan.

The RPI is one of many resources/tools available to the committee in the selection, seeding and bracketing process. Computer models cannot accurately evaluate qualitative factors such as games missed by key players or coaches, travel difficulties, the emotional effects of specific games,

Emotional effects? Are you f'ing serious? Are you going to tell me that a team like BYU could be penalized because some kid was worried about his grandma being sick?

So if a team has a hard fought loss to Team A then that should factor into their loss against Team B? C'MON!

The TCU reality check

Here is something else for consideration. Today. BYU beat TCU by 23 on the road. Connecticut has not beat one Big East team at home or on the road by that great of a margin all season!

Yes, Connecticut recently piled on some losses so they are below BYU in the standings. But a three loss (not a six loss) Connecticut team would be unquestioned and be ahead of BYU (as I just explained). It really is automatic.

Okay, but is not this the same TCU that is going to be good enough to be a part of the Big East next season?

TCU gets how this BS works. That is why they parlayed their recent football success and will be joining the Big East next season. They'll have the same recruits (mostly). But they'll magically be 'major' and not icky non 'major' via The Mountain West moniker.

There is no such thing as merit in college sports. It's about the title. If BYU had the magical ACC title then nobody could deny them.

BYU realizes that it has gotten so bad and that is why they said f this. We're going independent. 'Maybe if we crush enough 'major' teams that are really not much better than the teams we play now then we'll get our due that is overdue.'

Who really gets screwed

Okay, so some of the cream of the crop teams are looking for and arguably finding loopholes to improve their situation. But who is really getting hurt in the long run?

How about the Colorado States, New Mexicos, Fresno States, Long Beach States, Gonzagas and UNLVs of the world. They are all fine and competitive institutions.

Those teams are consistently on par with Marquette, Louisville, Villanova, Syracuse, North Carolina State and Miami. The only damn difference is that they are not from a 'major' conference.

Feeding Lemmings

ESPN is going to keep enabling and fools are going to believe them. I had one message board poster tell me that the Boise State Broncos (football) did not have the big linebackers to compete for a full season in the SEC. The lemmings in those more vested markets actually believe such nonsense because that is the type of stuff that the media whores tickle their ears with.

Do the lemmings not bother to check out how many NFL players are coming from schools like Boise State? Sure there is arguably some marginal differences, but it really is not that pronounced. And it certainly is not enough for them to think that Auburn was absolutely better than Boise State this year. Quite frankly, I would not bet against Boise State. But thanks to the BCS whores (that includes the school presidents and atheltic directors of 'major' schools) we'll never get to know see what would have happened.

In fact, BSU beat the other Paper Championship Finalist, Oregon only one season before. Auburn certainly was not better than Adrian Peterson's Sooners, who the Broncos beat in 06 Fiesta Bowl.

Oh I forgot to mention that it is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The systematic screwing of good teams is brought to you by Tostitos. Sort of makes you want to buy the store brand chips doesn't it?

Back To The BYU Basketball Reality

BYU has two losses this season. They lost a game in Southern California against UCLA. That was a game in which UCLA's big oaf center got four fouls and then he was allowed to throw elbows and bulldoze people and not get fouled out. Of course BYU played terribly that day and UCLA played well so I do not want to take anything away from UCLA.

Maybe we should consider what emotional trauma some of the BYU players may have been suffered from that game? (Sarcasm)

BYU also lost at one of the toughest places to play, New Mexico. The Albuquerque venue is basically the Rockies version of the Cameron Crazies. At one point recently, the Lobos even had the nation's longest home winning streak. But hey, we still got to consider New Mexico a non 'major' team (Code for: Not the media whores biggest seller).

By the way, UCLA (19-7) and New Mexico (17-9) are not slouches. BYU lost by single digits to good team on the road in games that they did not play well.

Heading into the New Mexico game, BYU was coming off of an emotional 13 point game at home against previously undefeated San Diego State. Do we not factor in the emotional nature of playing in that trap game?
Of course we do not do that! BYU is not a 'major' team. That double standard is preserved for the haves, not the have-nots. Instead, just mark it on the ledger that BYU lost to the lowly New Mexico and drop them in the rankings as far as you can possibly justify without too much of an outcry (Let's relegate blogs like this, that tell you how it is, to the fringe).

It does not matter that New Mexico (17-9) is not really lowly and that they would hold their own against any other 17-9 team in any other conference.

Speaking of 17-9, that is the exact record of St. John's, the team that beat Pittsburgh today. But will BYU jump ahead of Pittsburgh? Maybe, but probably not. After all, BYU has not beat all those 'major' teams that Pittsburgh has beaten.

BYU does not have the same strength of schedule as Pittsburgh. Never you mind that RPI weighs strength of victory and weighs it against performance. Perception needs to be reality. Reality being reality could be disastrous.

Reality

BYU is not  dominant team. Come tournament time, they might lose at any stage. But so might Pittsburgh or really any team in college basketball. So why do we pretend that one team is not worthy and one team is elite? It goes back the media whores. It's a set proposition. More johns are in the Big East Market (Yea that's how they came up with the name Saint John's by the way) (sarcasm).

That is not to say that every market does not have a wonderful amount of level headed and fair minded sports fans (they do). But like Colin Cowherd says, sports fans always back with their dog in the race.

If you can tell the majority of sports fans that their team is 'major' and the team in f'ing who the hell cares is not as good as you guys then they are going to accept it. It is that simple. Yes there are victims, but majority rules all the same.

Picture 1: Believe it or not, it is not the 'white bias' keeping BYU down.

Picture 2: The media loves selling the story of BYU' Jimmer Fredette as this year's Stephen Curry. The fact that his team is as good as any other team only annoys the media whores though.

Bonus

Presidents Day Coloring Pages

Before you download Presidents Day Coloring Pages, lets look at its history first:

Presidents Day (or Presidents' Day), is the common name for the federal holiday officially designated as Washington's Birthday. As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday in 1796 (the last full year of his presidency) on February 22.

While the holiday is still officially known as Washington's Birthday, it has become popularly known as "President's Day", honoring both Washington and Lincoln, as well as all the other men who have served as president.

OK then.. Lets download the Presidents Day Coloring Pages right now!

Presidents Day Coloring Pages

Before you download Presidents Day Coloring Pages, lets look at its history first:

Presidents Day (or Presidents' Day), is the common name for the federal holiday officially designated as Washington's Birthday. As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday in 1796 (the last full year of his presidency) on February 22.

While the holiday is still officially known as Washington's Birthday, it has become popularly known as "President's Day", honoring both Washington and Lincoln, as well as all the other men who have served as president.

OK then.. Lets download the Presidents Day Coloring Pages right now!

love is in the air

Valentine's is here. Hope, Love, Life & Passion. Are these thing we can feel every day? Hopfuly they are in each breath you take. Take time today to love yourself, beause you can only give love if you know how to love yourself. With out a little love each breath is not as full as it could be. Smell the cool winter air, love the way life keep rolling.

How We Roll

Here I am with my family three kids husband and my 73 year old dad. We all drive the unicycle! It all started about 8 year ago. I got my husband Dan a unicycle for our anniversary. Then my boys learned to drive at the age of 7 & 8, then me. This year my daughter learn, as well as grandpa. Nothing more wonderful then a well balance family!

Breast Cancer Awareness: Supporting A Super Cause For Super Bowl Sunday

The NFL spends an entire month each year promoting breast cancer awareness. So, in honor of Super Bowl Sunday, Shots Heard is reminding the ladies to self check for lumps. Help each other out if necessary.

Preschool Coloring Pages Collections 2011

Before you download Preschool Coloring Pages, you should read my articles bellow. I just wanna talk about this theme in a minutes.

The ability of visual motor coordination is one that must be mastered, which is easily recognisable is the ability of children in listen and copy text from the blackboard. In addition, independence becomes equally important for school age children in the lead. This last is related to the ability of children to be separated from their parents during a moment in the school. Elementary school age is an important time for children to form social relationships with peers. This success will greatly supported the attitude of independence and confidence is good. Actually some capabilities mentioned above can also be formed from the beginning. Clearly, the main source of parental guidance as the people closest to the child.

In addition there is an alternative education preschool play group or similar early childhood education. Alternative education like this are easily found with a variety of concepts and models of education. Actually this kind of education has benefits for children than for parents who have limited time to having to work outside the home. Early childhood education for children is not limited to kindergarten, but also for children from the age of 2 years up to before school age. Education models such as this many games use techniques both inside and outside the room. There is also a well as providing childcare services for parents in need. Why alternative education had become a useful tool for parents and children because there are some things that can be taken into consideration.

OK Now! Lets Download Preschool Coloring Pages Collections 2011

Preschool Coloring Pages Collections 2011

Before you download Preschool Coloring Pages, you should read my articles bellow. I just wanna talk about this theme in a minutes.

The ability of visual motor coordination is one that must be mastered, which is easily recognisable is the ability of children in listen and copy text from the blackboard. In addition, independence becomes equally important for school age children in the lead. This last is related to the ability of children to be separated from their parents during a moment in the school. Elementary school age is an important time for children to form social relationships with peers. This success will greatly supported the attitude of independence and confidence is good. Actually some capabilities mentioned above can also be formed from the beginning. Clearly, the main source of parental guidance as the people closest to the child.

In addition there is an alternative education preschool play group or similar early childhood education. Alternative education like this are easily found with a variety of concepts and models of education. Actually this kind of education has benefits for children than for parents who have limited time to having to work outside the home. Early childhood education for children is not limited to kindergarten, but also for children from the age of 2 years up to before school age. Education models such as this many games use techniques both inside and outside the room. There is also a well as providing childcare services for parents in need. Why alternative education had become a useful tool for parents and children because there are some things that can be taken into consideration.

OK Now! Lets Download Preschool Coloring Pages Collections 2011